Growing pains! (Marcus)

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SUCCESS! Marcus shook himself off quickly, flushed from the effort of running on a hot Mumbai day. He would have to guzzle some water after this for sure. Cautiously he made his way to the edge of the rooftop and peered down just in time to catch sight of a pair of full crimson lips, sending his heart into his throat!

IT was the exact same shade she tended to use!
Mabey......
If he remembered correctly.

No matter, if he was to act, it would have to be Now!
And since he was close enough to her, it was time to have alittle fun of his own. Planting his butt down on the edge of the rooftop, his feet dangling over the parapet, Marcus called down to the young woman in a lyrical tongue native to this part of the country. He began to speak in Hindi.

"<What's this? Has the young lady lost her way?>"
Marcus wasn't sure how much Hindi Silk might have picked up, but he DEFINATLY knew she did NOT like to be called a Lady.

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For a moment, the woman looked around after hearing the voice. She was thoroughly confused as to who was calling out to her.

She looked to the right, but there was no one. To the left, again no one. She looked down the alley in front of her and then behind her, no one. Till she noticed two feet dangling down. She blinked and turned her head up so that FINALLY! Yes, finally, her stalker could get a full view of her face to confirm who she was.

Though, now that he could see her face, it didn't look a thing like Silk at all. In fact the silver hair that he had hoped belonged to his friend, was grey and those crimson, full lips were wrinkled and old. The woman before him was someone's grandmother no doubt. She replied in the same voice with a smile and a soft blush on her tan weathered face.

"Yuvā? Mērē pyārē baccē nahīṁ. Basa thōṛā ulajhana mēṁ hai. Mujhē lagatā hai maiṁ vaha isa taraha sē āyā thā... Mainnē sōcā ki mērī bēṭī kō khō diyā. Tumanē usē dēkhā hai? Vaha nīlē raṅga mēṁ kapaṛē pahanē, yaha lambā kē bārē mēṁ hai?"
(Young? No my dear child. Just a bit confused. I lost my daughter... I thought she had come this way. Have you seen her? She's about this tall, dressed in blue?)

Congradulations Marcus! You've leveled up! You managed to stalk an elderly woman through the crowd and alley ways of Mumbai, while evading dangerous birds and fruit carts. That pole vaulting skill will certainly come in handy!

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Such was the mans Character that he went immediately from mischievous to shocked and amazed at the identity of his quarry, to outright concern. Young women going missing even in a big city like Mumbai, no....

ESPECIALLY in a big city like Mumbai never meant good news.

"Maiṁ maiṁ dādī mām̐ nahīṁ hai kahanē kē li'ē māphī cāhatā hūm̐. Lēkina āpa kē li'ē, maiṁ tuma usakē li'ē laga rahī madada karēgā."
<I'm sorry to say I haven't Grandmother. But for you, I shall help you look for her.>
Marcus replied with a respectful nod of his head as he scrambled back up to his feet and brushed off his knees with his free hand.

Taking a deep breath and quickly stretching, feeling the satisfying staccato pops of his joints and spine, Marcus shook himself up and with groceries still in hand, set out on the search for a new Quarry.

Surely his Aunt and Uncle would understand............right?